NEWS

PHC Holdings Announces Service Agreement with Japan Medical Network Association-Medical Data from PHC’s Electronic Patient Record System for Clinics and Millennial Medical Record Database Linkage Experiments

June 18, 2018
PHC Holdings Corporation

TOKYO, June 18, 2018 ― PHC Corporation (hereafter PHC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (headquarters: Tokyo, Japan) announces signing a service agreement with the Japan Medical Network Association. The service agreement concerns the linkage of medical data. The Japan Medical Network Association (JMNA) is a non-profit organization that consists of medical professionals from multiple universities and institutes including Emeritus Professor Hiroyuki Yoshihara from Kyoto University and Miyazaki University, and Professor Kenji Araki from Miyazaki University who work as board members. The agreement allows PHC to conduct experiments that connect the medical database Millennial Medical Record developed from a JMNA research project called Millennial Medical Record Project *1 to PHC’s Electronic Patient Record System. The experiment aims to build a platform for the secondary use of medical information in a secure and appropriate manner.

The Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act*2 that went into effect May 11 defines anonymization of patient health records provided by medical institutions in order that research organizations such as universities and healthcare companies are able to utilize the data for the development of drugs and medical equipment as well as in large-scale research projects regarding the efficacy and evaluation of various products. In the experiments covered by the agreement, PHC links data stored in electronic patient record systems with the Millennial Medical Record database. This is conducted after healthcare institutions are invited to participate and obtaining patient consent. The experiment will confirm the appropriate secondary use of medical data according to the law as well as aiming to allow patients across the country to access the data in a safe manner.

PHC offers value-added products and services through three core businesses—Medical Devices, Healthcare IT, and Life Sciences. Since PHC launched Japan’s first medical-receipt computer in 1972, the company has leveraged its accumulated experience and knowhow to underscore its commitment to provide leading-edge healthcare IT solutions. PHC’s Electronic Patient Record System has achieved the top share*3 in the Japanese clinic market. So far, secondary use of medical information has been limited to large-scale medical facilities such as university hospitals. This agreement will drive forward medical data collection and secondary use in a safer and appropriate manner at smaller clinics that are more responsible for patient health care on a daily basis, realizing a higher quality of medical care, research and development.

Takayuki Otsuka, head of the Medical Information Systems (Medicom*4) Division said, “Based on our core product, Electronic Patient Record System, PHC aims to build a next-generation medical solution platform. PHC took a step forward partnering with JMNA and expects further cooperation with authorized companies executing the anonymization process, as well as linking to our other systems, such as assistive solution for health insurance pharmacies or health guidance assistance system. By utilizing PHC’s infrastructures in a wider manner, it is our hope to contribute to developments in medical research and improvements to healthcare quality.”

The experiment is scheduled for multiple facilities in limited regions during FY2018.
Participation opportunities for medical institutes will be offered shortly.

*1
Millennial Medical Record Project is a research project authorized by AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development) in 2015 that aims to collect and use medical information on a national basis in line with global standards. It plans to integrate medical records stored at independent medical institutions around the country into a newly-built, shared medical database (Millennial Medical Record) center and to standardize data formats in order to accelerate operational costs reduction and enhance information security.
Millennial Medical Record is an integrated medical data platform developed and operated by the Japan Medical Network Association (JMNA) that accumulates, refers, utilizes and shares various individual healthcare data. By promoting the Millennial Medical Record, the project aims to enable patients to access their own health records regardless of location. In addition, the project will develop the mechanism that realizes the fair and safe use of data accumulated in the database conforming to the Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act, contributing to improving treatment quality and drug development.
*2
The Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act defines the appropriate anonymization of patient information aiming to utilize medical data for healthcare research and development. Under this system, certified organizations execute an anonymization process to patient data provided by medical institutions. This system aims to enhance medical big data utilization while protecting patient privacy. An “opt out” process is implemented when providing private data to third parties. The process informs patients of their data submission in advance, or assumes data submission unless the patient disagrees. This applies only when a patient is able to comprehend their data is submitted to third parties.
*3
Source: Yano Research Institute Ltd., “Medical Information Systems (EMR/EHR) Market 2017”
*4
Medicom: PHC healthcare IT business/products brand

About PHC Holdings Corporation

Incorporated in 2014, PHC Holdings Corporation is a global healthcare company. Its subsidiaries include PHC Corporation and Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG. Committed to its corporate mission, “We contribute to the wellbeing of society through our diligent efforts by creating new value for all the people who wish for better health,” the company develops, manufactures, sells and services medical equipment and solutions through its three core businesses for medical devices, healthcare IT and life sciences. PHC Holdings Corporation group’s consolidated net sales in FY2016 marks 187.4 billion yen with global distribution of products and services for more than 125 countries. PHC Holdings Corporation changed its name from Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd. in April, 2018.
For further information on PHC Holdings Corporation, please visit
URL: http://www.phchd.com

About Japan Medical Network Association (NPO)

Japan Medical Network Association is a non-profit organization aiming to integrate regional healthcare database into a united medical database platform that allows patients access to their medical data from any location. Board members include Hiroyuki Yoshihara, emeritus professor at Kyoto University and Miyazaki University, Kenji Araki, professor at Miyazaki University and other professionals working in medical universities and institutions.
URL: http://www.ehr.or.jp